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Emergency director resigns following dispatcher sleeping report

By Justin McClelland and Eric Schwartzberg, Staff Reporter Updated 1:48 PM Friday, October 16, 2009

Warren County Emergency Service Director Frank Young submitted his resignation today, Oct. 16, following an investigation into improper conduct among late-night emergency dispatchers.

Young’s resignation is effective Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The investigation into the dispatchers’ actions began in April and includes one dispatcher, Ron Kronenberger, rumored to have been asleep prior to answering a 911 call from Ryan Widmer, who reported his wife’s drowning.

The report, released Wednesday, Oct. 14, by the county, details what happened the night of Aug. 11, 2008, when Widmer reached Kronenberger.

Warren County Commissioner Dave Young, no relation, said a supervisor at the dispatch center said “people pretty much sleep all the time.”

County commissioners will consider accepting his resignation Oct. 20 at their regularly scheduled meeting.

Young made no mention of the investigation or recent controversy in his resignation letter, noting only “I feel the time has come to pursue other goals in my life,” before applauding his staff and thanking the county for the chance to work there for 20 years.

County Commissioner Mike Kilburn said that he could not discuss personnel items but said Young, “brought a lot of good things in the time he was here.

“He worked very hard and did the best he could,” Kilburn said. “The situation is bittersweet. Things sometimes have a way of being problematic.”

When asked if he was referring to the recent investigation into dispatchers sleeping on the job, Kilburn would not comment further.

“I’m sure there’s a perception that he’s leaving under a cloud,” said Commissioner Pat South. “I believe he’s showing good leadership. He doesn’t want to see anything impact a department that is 99 percent good.”

South said it was unfortunate that one call “of such high media scrutiny” could paint the dispatchers in a “less than professional” manner.

In the event that the board accepts Young’s resignation, Warren County Administrator Dave Gully is recommending to the commissioners that John Bruce, former police chief of West Chester Township, be appointed as interim director of emergency management for Warren County, effective Oct. 20.

Bruce’s salary will be $75,000 annually.

Gully said he is recommending that the board accept Young’s resignation.

Young had been a Warren County employee since February 1989, Gully said.

“He has been a part of the growth of our community, and has made many positive contributions to the government of our community,” Gully said. “His time has come to explore new opportunities that I am sure are awaiting him professionally. Our time has come to take the Emergency Management Department of Warren County in positive new directions.”

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